tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17433936.post116365847553798861..comments2023-10-29T21:28:41.709+10:30Comments on Pavlov's Cat: On Going to the Opera, Part 2: Verdi and NabuccoKerryn Goldsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11270814460793882309noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17433936.post-1164293710515055682006-11-24T01:25:00.000+10:302006-11-24T01:25:00.000+10:30I haven't seen Nabucco, but I have heard Maria Pol...I haven't seen Nabucco, but I have heard Maria Pollicina before in concert in the United States . . . something she did in connection with the Australian Embassy in Washington, DC . . . and she was remarkable. Her voice soared above a boys choir and an orchestra for some thrilling music-making. I can't wait to hear her again. Thanks for the review. You are a wonderful writer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17433936.post-1163895784590324622006-11-19T10:53:00.000+10:302006-11-19T10:53:00.000+10:30Mark and El, on the Cheat's Guide -- it's been don...Mark and El, on the Cheat's Guide -- it's been done, alas, by (at least) Victor Borge in <I>My Favourite Intervals</I>, and more recently and locally by John Cargher in <I>How to Enjoy Opera Without Really Trying</I>, my two opera reference books. (Those familiar with them will know how funny this is.) It may be time for a new one, though. A Stephen Fry type guide would have to be as knowledgeable about opera as Fry is about poetry, which I most certainly am not.<BR/><BR/>El, the operatic (or even just classical) style of singing is an acquired taste, I think. Especially in a language that one does not speak.<BR/><BR/>Wendy, it was lovely to read your comment. I agree that they did the 'contemporary significance' thing very well, without being too heavy-handed about it, and that Pollicina was amazing.Kerryn Goldsworthyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11270814460793882309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17433936.post-1163856532534869752006-11-18T23:58:00.000+10:302006-11-18T23:58:00.000+10:30thank you for the review of Nabucco on the blog. I...thank you for the review of Nabucco on the blog. I have just returned hom from seeing this marvellous opera and production tonight. This is how opera should be and we were blown away by the performance by maria Pollicina in particular. The mixing of the time frames and references was very successful in highlighting the universal and very current themes.<BR/>Phewww!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17433936.post-1163740053834209752006-11-17T15:37:00.000+10:302006-11-17T15:37:00.000+10:30oops -- cancel that 'desparate'!oops -- cancel that 'desparate'!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17433936.post-1163739952534983202006-11-17T15:35:00.000+10:302006-11-17T15:35:00.000+10:30Thanks, that was another lovely post about opera. ...Thanks, that was another lovely post about opera. Perhaps you could write some Stephen Fry style guide for opera dummies (if one hasn't already been written).<BR/><BR/>Confession: as a teenager, I was able to attend Australia Opera productions through a scheme called student access, whereby we could see Sat matinees for $4, often in the standing room section. I often went just to hang out with certain boys (who were probably gay). In some ways, I was probably thrown into the deep end with opera and didn't get that much out of it. My favourite production was _A Midsummer Night's Dream_, which featured a young Anthony Warlow as Puck _with hair_.<BR/><BR/>I often felt I didn't appreciate this opportunity enough. My mother was highly envious, having been brought up on the wrong side of the tracks but desparate to gain access to the world of opera, the arts etc (which she later did by getting a subscription herself - obv having married into a better side of the tracks), so encouraged us to follow her passions. I was never that great a fan of opera myself, tho regret being too ill to see an open-air opera in Central Park when I was in NY this year. But I suspect that people like myself would enjoy an educative (or re-educative) guide to opera-watching.<BR/><BR/>Back to the marking!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17433936.post-1163726657927968932006-11-17T11:54:00.000+10:302006-11-17T11:54:00.000+10:30I've often wondered about that Blake. Thanks for t...I've often wondered about that Blake. Thanks for the explanation. And for your insight into Nabucco. <BR/><BR/>With little chance to go to the opera at the moment, and only having listened to excerpts (like the 'Slave's Chorus'), I appreciate getting the full picture of what the opera's about.<BR/><BR/>How about you write 'The cheat's guide to understanding opera without going to the theatre'?Mark Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02504002779156297181noreply@blogger.com